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Member Selection Committee, Wahab Riaz Speaking during the squad announcement press conference:
When asked about the delay in the squad announcement:
“We are all on the same page. The captain and coach, Gary Kirsten, have had a mutual discussion with us. There are some delays due to fitness issues. For instance, we are expecting Haris Rauf to be completely fit by the time of the England series. His rehabilitation has already started, and he is bowling 8 to 10 overs daily in the nets. We have kept these factors in mind and have announced the squad a bit late. After the match against England on the 21st, we will announce the final squad for the T20 World Cup. We are monitoring a few players who have minor fitness issues.”
When asked about Hassan Ali’s selection:
“Hassan Ali was already under consideration. He was playing county cricket because his contract was ongoing. However, we had to see that we needed an experienced pacer like Haris Rauf. Yes, Hassan Ali has come as a backup for Haris Rauf and this clarity has been given to Hassan Ali. So hopefully, if Haris Rauf becomes fit, he will be our first choice. The ICC event is a very big event and we have seen that Hassan Ali has bowled well in the new ICC competitions and he has experience. For this reason, Hassan Ali has been selected as a backup for Haris Rauf.”
About the rotation policy in the upcoming series:
“Firstly, we couldn’t achieve the result we wanted in the New Zealand series with the team we had, and we accept this responsibility. As we move forward and talk about the combination, when we are rotating, we will have both successes and failures. For example, if you see, Usman Khan made his debut, three of our players got unfit in this series. After that, we were looking at having young bowlers in bowling as well, like Abbas Afridi and Zaman Khan. When you have to make a team and you have to look at the combination for the World Cup, you have to finalize what your best combination will be. For this, we understand that losing is not a good thing, but at least they are trying, so it is very important for us. You will see in the England series that our best combination will play, and that could also be our World Cup combination.”
When asked about the upcoming T20 World Cup squad and the structure of the team, focusing on the roles of key players and the opening pair:When asked about the delay in the squad announcement:
“We are all on the same page. The captain and coach, Gary Kirsten, have had a mutual discussion with us. There are some delays due to fitness issues. For instance, we are expecting Haris Rauf to be completely fit by the time of the England series. His rehabilitation has already started, and he is bowling 8 to 10 overs daily in the nets. We have kept these factors in mind and have announced the squad a bit late. After the match against England on the 21st, we will announce the final squad for the T20 World Cup. We are monitoring a few players who have minor fitness issues.”
When asked about Hassan Ali’s selection:
“Hassan Ali was already under consideration. He was playing county cricket because his contract was ongoing. However, we had to see that we needed an experienced pacer like Haris Rauf. Yes, Hassan Ali has come as a backup for Haris Rauf and this clarity has been given to Hassan Ali. So hopefully, if Haris Rauf becomes fit, he will be our first choice. The ICC event is a very big event and we have seen that Hassan Ali has bowled well in the new ICC competitions and he has experience. For this reason, Hassan Ali has been selected as a backup for Haris Rauf.”
About the rotation policy in the upcoming series:
“Firstly, we couldn’t achieve the result we wanted in the New Zealand series with the team we had, and we accept this responsibility. As we move forward and talk about the combination, when we are rotating, we will have both successes and failures. For example, if you see, Usman Khan made his debut, three of our players got unfit in this series. After that, we were looking at having young bowlers in bowling as well, like Abbas Afridi and Zaman Khan. When you have to make a team and you have to look at the combination for the World Cup, you have to finalize what your best combination will be. For this, we understand that losing is not a good thing, but at least they are trying, so it is very important for us. You will see in the England series that our best combination will play, and that could also be our World Cup combination.”
"When you form a team, you identify your key players or those the team can rely on, and right now, that is undoubtedly Babar and Rizwan. That's why we need someone at the start, with Babar or Rizwan, and that we have in Saim's form. He's a more attacking player who can be aggressive at the top."
"Then, in the middle overs where we face problems, we need a player who can lead the team. So, I think this is all part of the planning. If we realize that we need to make changes moving forward, we will make them. We are working in the best interest of the team, and we will do whatever is the best."
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